Fans flock to NHL Store, Rockefeller Center to be part of Blueshirt history

Marge Marchand proudly displays the new Rangers Heritage jersey she purchased for her son, Nick, at the NHL Store. Marchand was the first person to purchase the new Blueshirt following its unveiling.
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For Marge Marchand, being first on line to purchase the Rangers brand-new Heritage jersey at the NHL Store on Friday night in midtown Manhattan had nothing to do with collecting a new piece of trendy sports clothing.

Instead, like so many Rangers fans, it had everything to do with family.

Marchand was there to purchase the handsome dark blue sweater that celebrates the Rangers’ 85th anniversary for her 30 year-old son, a die-hard Blueshirts fan who currently resides in Vermont. She was also there for her husband, a passionate life-long member of the Blueshirts Faithful who passed away 12 years ago from cancer.

“This tradition of passion for the Rangers has been given to my son Nick from my husband, Bob, who must be looking down now and just loving this,” explained Marchand, amidst the frenzy of Rangers fans who overtook the NHL Store following the unveiling of the team’s Heritage jersey on Friday evening. “It’s a great thing to be a part of. And it’s something that is shared in our family.”

At the request of Nick, Marchand made the trip in from Coram on Long Island to purchase a heritage sweater with Marian Gaborik’s name and No. 10 stitched on it. She arrived on line at the NHL Store shortly before 6 p.m., more than a full hour before the doors would open and the brand-new jerseys would be available for purchase.

Marchand could not have imagined beforehand that she would be the first to actually buy the new Rangers sweater.

“The real reason why I think I was the first one was that I had an angel on my shoulder,” said Marchand. “My husband, who passed away in ’98, was the greatest Rangers fan ever. So I’m sure that I had a good luck charm.”

The Heritage jerseys were unveiled in a special ceremony which took place at Rockefeller Center earlier on Friday night. Ten former Rangers joined 11 members of the current squad in a celebration of the rich history of the franchise.

Fans rimmed the upper area of the famed Rockefeller Center ice rink as emcee Al Trautwig held question-and-answer sessions with both alumni and current Rangers down on the ice itself. After the ceremony, the fans took part in a free skating session with many members of the Rangers family.

Ranger captain Chris Drury and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist share a laugh while sporting their new Blueshirts during the Heritage jersey unveiling ceremony held Friday night at Rockefeller Center.• MORE PHOTOS

“Everyone wants to be a Ranger,” said Graves, whose No. 9 is one of seven retired numbers hanging from the rafters at Madison Square Garden. “This is the greatest organization, and the fans are the best in the business.”

Lundqvist, Avery, Boyle, Gaborik, Del Zotto, and Gilroy took part in the question-and-answer session with Trautwig and Maloney, who also served as co-host. And they did so while wearing their traditional home blue jerseys.

When next the current players were seen by the fans they were walking out to the center of the ice, led by Drury, wearing the Heritage jerseys in public for the first time.

“They did a really, really good job with these,” said Lundqvist. “I am going to be really proud to wear this jersey.”

Pride. Tradition. Family.

Marge Marchand knows that those are all important ingredients of what makes up the New York Rangers.